A TORFAEN cabinet member is calling on the council to do more for those affected by domestic abuse in the area.

In a motion due to go before Torfaen’s full council on April 13, equalities cabinet member Cllr Cynthia Beynon states that approximately 10,000 women in Torfaen have suffered or continue to suffer from domestic abuse.

She said although the council provides crisis support for women who are at greatest risk of serious harm or murder through the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, there are no unrestricted services for women who are at standard risk, whcih could help prevent them becoming high risk.

Cllr Beynon said the issues surrounding domestic abuse were highlighted by the death of Bobbie Stokoe in Trevethin last year. Ms Stokoe, 23, was found wrapped in a carpet in undergrowth in an area known as the Dumpty in Trevethin on August 19 last year.

An inquest into her death heard she was stabbed more than 25 times in a frenzied attack by her partner, Darryl Smith, just hours after leaving a women's refuge. Smith was later found dead on remand in prison charged with her murder.

Cllr Beynon said: "Bobbie Stokoe has highlighted the issues around domestic abuse. Many people don't realise it's on the up. I want to make the whole council aware of it. Some councillors are not aware of the level of domestic abuse, if they are not involved in community safety."

She said the lack of services for perpetrators meant the cause of the problem was not being addressed and the needs of the next generation were also being neglected as there were no specialist domestic abuse services for children affected.

She is asking the council to recognise domestic abuse as an issue in Torfaen and commit dedicated financial resources and staff time to tackling domestic abuse.